The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1887-12-15
FACTS CONCERNING CANCER.

A Disease More Prevalent Among the Rich
Than the Poor-No Radical Cure.
This disease appears to be largely on the
increase. From the report of the registrar
general we learn there were so, 059 deaths
in England from this cause during the ten
years from 1860 to 1859, an annual increase
of 248. From 1870 to 1872 the annual in
: crease was 1877. Though we have no sta
tistics at hand, medical practitioners are
generally inclined to admit that this dis
ease is alarmingly on the increase in the
, United States.
1t seems to be more prevalent in the
heated and intense life of cities than in
the country; among the rich and well to do
than among the poor. According to French
authority, the proportion of cancer in
France among the wealthy classes is about
1O6 In 200; among the poorer classes 70
in 1,OOO-10 per cent. of the former and 7
per cent. Of the latter. 1t seems to be q
morbid growth upon civilization. as it is
rarely found among savage men. Like the
scale and other fruit pests that prey upon
our orchards and vineyards, the shadow of
this baleful parasitic growth hoyers around
the homes of ease and luxury and high liy-
ing, rather than pioneer cabins, the camps
and huts of miners, loggers, hunters and
fishermen. Observation shows that it is
fond of localities. 1t is said to be wholly
unknown in the Farce islands. In Ice
land In one year there were only thirty
seven cases out of $4,000 inhabitants.
Considering the geographical extent Of
England it is more prevalent malignant
and fatal there than elsewhere, and
among English speaking people than any
other race 1t is to be found more largely
among women than men and more among
those who have been mothers. 1t is most
likely to appear between the ages of 35
and 6O. 1t stands almost alone as dis
ease that increases with our excited life
and prosperity, and while health laws and
improved sanitation are raising the
standard of health this hideous and
loathsome malady rests as blot upon our
vital statistics.
AS lar as known cancer does not arise
from any micro organisms or germs and
consequently is not infectious or con-
tagious. 1t cannot be caught nor given.
But If 1t be true that cancerous persons
do not propagate the disease it is almost
certain they beget consumptive chill
dren, and consumption is always a re-
suit of debility, want Of general health,
whatever may be the immediate cause.
Still cancer often attacks persons in the
most vigorous health, and consequently is
hard to classify in terms of causation.
Ii Is sad commentary on our boosted
healing art, with its rich heritage of more
than thousand years, that this disease is
still classed among the incurables. MANY
of our most learned and widely expert
enced physicians confess that they have
no faith in any known remedy, and be-
lieve that all that can be done is to merci-
fully let the wretched sufferer as-softly
into the grave as possible. There are a
few who still think that electricity may
furnish some alienation, but as cura-
tive agent it has but few followers. 1t
seems to be melancholy concurrence
among medical men that no confidence
can be placed in medication, and that as
long as the etiology of the disease is
wrapped in mystery, it is waste of time to
discuss its therapeutics. The knife is now
about the only accepted remedy with the
profession throughout the world bat even
that it Is admitted can only avail in the
incipiency of the disease, which is liable
to break out again. 1t is always q local
disease at the start, but spreads by means
OF blood vessels and lymphatics, first to
the nearest gland, then more distant, and
when this occurs it is no longer local but
constitutional, and the surgeon is power
less At the start cancer seems closely
allied with the tumor family, and has usu-
ally become constitutional before it I'M
masks itself. Once in the blood it is hone
lessly beyond all surgical eradication.
Halls Journal of Health.